Soler surges to mountain stage win
Valverde is now Rasmessen's closest challenger
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Tuesday, 17, Jul 2007 08:40
Colombian rider Juan Mauricio Soler claimed the ninth stage of the Tour de France with a courageous performance amongst the French peaks.
The gruelling 159.5-kilometre day takes in three imposing climbs and it was on the final ascent of the Col de Galibier that the 24-year-old made his decisive move.
After slipping away from a leading group of six, Soler held his nerve as he passed over the top and raced down the final 32 kilometres to the finish line in Briancon 38 seconds clear of the rest of the field.
"I'm really happy. Winning a stage is a dream. It's the most beautiful day of my life. I never thought I would win a stage in the Tour de France," he said.
Overall leader Dane Michael Rasmussen came home in sixth position, successfully defending most of his aggregate lead.
Caisse d'Epargne's Alejandro Valverde was the one rider to make inroads into Ramussen's advantage.
He came in second on the day and moved into second in the race for the yellow jersey by cutting four seconds off the lead, leaving two minutes 35 seconds separating the pair.
Kazakhstan's Alexandre Vinkourov however looks to be rapidly falling out of contention after he trailed in over three minutes behind Soler.
The result leaves him an almost irrecoverable eight minutes and five seconds off the pace, particularly as he is struggling with heavily gashed knees from a fall last week.